I have an embarrassing number of Apple devices. There are times I feel personally responsible for Apple's success. How can I keep track of them should one wander away? Through Apple's "Find My iPhone."
You can use this service to find your device on a map. For example, I can see the 1st generation iPad attached to the front of my refrigerator.
On your Macintosh, go to system preferences and choose iCloud. You can either use an existing Apple ID (like your iTunes account) or create a new one.
You can use this service to find your device on a map. For example, I can see the 1st generation iPad attached to the front of my refrigerator.
If I saw it wandering away, I could lock it, or even reset it completely.
To get started you need to setup iCloud. It's free. You can use the same id you use with iTunes, or create a new id. All you need is an email address.
Once you have successfully logged into iCloud, choose "Find My Mac" from the list. You will have to turn on location services which is located in the security and privacy preferences:
You should use this same Apple ID to setup iCloud on your iPhone, iPad and other Apple devices you might own. On the iOS device, go to Settings> iCloud>login and turn "Find My iPhone" on.
How do you find your device? On a computer (any computer), use a browser and login at iCloud.com. Click on "Find My iPhone." You'll see a list of the devices you have setup with iCloud. Click on a device to see it on a map, or you can even select the device if it is not online. If you login to iCloud.com with Safari on your iPhone or iPad, you will be prompted to install the "Find My iPhone" app.
Once everything is working, you will see a list of your devices when using this service on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad.
You can have iCloud inform you when the device is available. You can also remotely lock the machine, or you can erase the contents.
If you can't find your Mac, make sure you do the following in System Preferences:
- Set the time zone automatically in the Date & Time preference
- Enable Location Services under Security and Privacy
Use with caution. Should anyone hijack your iCloud id and password, they can lock and/or erase all of the content on those devices.
